If you want to move leaves, fallen branches, and debris without having to break your back raking, you’re in the right place. These two backpack blowers will make hours of work fly by. Both are great for homeowners as well as lawn care professionals. Let’s look at them both and see which one will be best for you.
Husqvarna 150BT 50.2cc 2-Cycle Gas Backpack Blower
The 150BT has the faster air speed of these two models, a whopping 250 miles per hour. That’s about a 100 miles an hour more than a Category 5 hurricane wind! Owners have commented that blasting that much air moves debris effortlessly…and may result in damage to windows and paint on vehicles if you point it at gravel near a home or vehicle. It’s powered by the X-Torq engine: a 50cc 2-cycle gasoline engine with 1.6kW of power.The X-Torq engine is designed to use fuel more efficiently and reduce emissions by more than half. This makes it CARB-compliant for use in the state of California.
A handy feature is the air purge that removes air from the fuel system and carburetor. That makes the blower easier to start. The transparent tank holds up to 1.25 liters of a gas and oil mixture. Husqvarna says this amount of fuel will last for about three hours of use. The usual consumption rate is about 16 ounces per kilowatt-hour (kWh). They recommend using their own proprietary blend oil. If the owner does this, Husqvarna may double the life of the warranty to four years instead of two.
This blower is not terribly noisy compared to others in its class. It rates about 94 decibels at ear level while it is being worn on the back. Of course, Husqvarna recommends ear and eye protection while at work with it.
The 150BT weighs almost 23 pounds when fully fueled, but the padded shoulder and hip straps hold it securely on the user’s back and distribute the weight. It’s comfortable enough, but there aren’t a couple of Cadillac-style extras like there are on the 350BT described below.
More features of the Husqvarna 150BT leaf blower
- Air flow 434 cfm (cubic feet per minute)
- 2-year parts and labor warranty
- No vacuum option
Husqvarna 350BT 50.2cc 2-Cycle X-Torq Gas Powered 180 MPH Midsize Back Pack Blower (CARB Compliant)
The Husqvarna 350BT has some nice touches that make it even more attractive to those who need to use it for hours at a time. For one, it has vibration dampeners between the engine and the chassis. That makes it a lot more comfortable to wear and control. The handle with the throttle is ergonomically designed and adjustable. The handle also has an integrated cruise control so the user doesn’t get as fatigued holding the trigger all the time. These extras make this blower like a Cadillac to use.
The maximum air speed is 180mph, slower than on the 150BT, but still plenty powerful. The rest of the specifications are about the same as on the 150BT above. The 350BT has the X-Torq engine that saves fuel and reduces pollution. It needs a gas and oil mixture to operate. Husqvarna has a specific fuel ratio listed in their manual, and they say to not mix up more than will be used in a month’s time. Fortunately, the 350BT can operate for about three hours on the 1.25-liter tank. It’s easy to see when it’s time for refueling because the tank is transparent.
Husqvarna recommends using eye and ear protection when operating the blower. It hits about 104 decibels, too loud for sustained use. (Think motorcycle or snowmobile loud.) The maximum rpm is 7500, and it reaches 1.6kW of power.Users have commented that the 350BT moves wet leaves and branches easily even though its top air speed is lower than that of the 150BT.
More features of the Husqvarna 350BT leaf blower
- Air flow 494 cfm (more than the 150BT)
- 2-year parts and labor warranty
- No vacuum option
Recommendation
Both of these backpack blowers are great for taking care of large yards. They are excellent tools for both homeowners and groundskeepers, anyone who has to manage large areas with fallen leaves and debris.
If you have a need for high air speed, the 150BT has the highest between these two blowers.
Meanwhile, the 350BT is made for comfort. It’s relatively the same in power as the 150BT, even with the lower air speed. If you need to do a lot of cleanup, the vibration dampener and ergonomic handle with cruise control makes your work so much more pleasant and easy.
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